Here are some wisdom nuggets to help understand people with autism. I do not own copyright.
Accept children the way they are…when engaging with them, allow some thinking time when waiting for an answer.
In rooms, bright lights might hurt their eyes.
When meeting them for the first time, be patient with them …. give them time to get to know you.
Children with autism go to school and learn new things just like you …think before you judge them.
Do not change their routine … because it makes them feel safe.
Maintaining a routine is often important to them. Not having their usual schedule might contribute to a possible meltdown trigger. Explain at every stage what you are about to do, what will happen next and why. It helps them feel secure.
Feel free to ask questions – if you are not sure ask why they do certain things.
Give them enough time to process the information you are sharing and wait a few seconds for a response.
They might not like crowds.
They just want to be loved.
They are very picky eaters.
They are visual thinkers and not language-based thinkers – their brain is like Google images.
They are not ignoring you – they are just waiting for you to enter their world.
If you see them getting upset – give them some space; they might be having a hard time.
They have a hard time communicating and making friends.
They have no sense of danger sometimes.
They have inappropriate attachment to some objects.
Look into their eyes and hear what they are not saying: their eyes speak louder than their voice ever will.
Their meltdowns are not tantrums.
Observational skills are their strength: they like to listen, look, and learn.
Repetitive behaviours to them are a coping mechanism and therefore should be respected.
Say what you mean – they do not understand your facial expression or your body language. They do not understand sarcasm.
Socialising can be a bit of a challenge – it is hard for them to make eye contact or join in a game.
Some strong smells make them sick.
When they are stimming, it helps them to block out excess sensory input.